Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

Monday, August 2, 2010

Final Day: August 2nd - the Rosaries

So why did I come here? I didn't come here with any specific intention but I have now come to realize why God sent me here. It has been difficult being here. It was difficult getting adjusted to the situation here and it was also hard because missed being at St. Paul's where I had been for 10 months of my life. I missed my friends even though I was in a beautiful place. Then, day by day, I fell in love with the place and the people that I had come to meet while being here.

The last week then has been hard again because I knew that the last day was coming. Little by little, people were going home and it was difficult for me to see some of them go home. I had found a new home with new friends and now it is time to say goodbye. I hate saying goodbye!!

But underneath all of this, God was doing something very subtle that I will only realize later in my life. A mission that he gave me was these rosaries. I bought 150 rosaries in Bethlehem at the beginning of the trip and I felt inspired to bring them to all the sites of the mysteries of the Rosary. I wanted to see and touch the places that I pray so often, but not only that, I wanted to bring that to other people as well. I must give these out to friends and family...and when the last one is left, I will keep that one...but only until then will I be able to have that rosary.

So in one sense, I think the Virgin Mary brought me here to Jerusalem and Bethlehem so that I could see and touch and hear the places where she also walked with her son Jesus. So for the rest of my life, I will pray those places that I took these rosaries. But there is one final thing, I couldn't find a place that commemorated or was the "Church of" the Crowning of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth. I think the reason for that is that since she was crowned in Heaven, there is no spot on earth where we can find a site. Rather, these Rosaries are the crown that we will place on her Head of our love for Her but most importantly, Her love and Jesus' love for us!!

So would you like a Rosary?

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Day 31: July 30, Stations of the Cross and Shabbat


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Originally uploaded by Militiaoftheimmaculata
Today was a lonely day. So I had organized a day where Elizabeth, Caitie, and I would go and do the stations of the cross from morning until 3pm. I didn't realize how hot it would be and how unrealistic it was for me to plan 6 hours of religious activities. At the end of the month, many of us are "churched out" and so we need to take it easy.

So they day wonderfully began with a group of 14 of us celebrating Mass at Golgotha!! It was at 8:15 and was very surprising that they gave us this spot since in the Church there are at least 7 other altars that they could have given us. This was a very special mass since many people were leaving on that Friday and so it was our last mass together...many of us who had celebrated mass each day during the month.

From there, Caitie and I went to the 3rd station to my favorite place to pray: the Armenian Catholic church where they have adoration of the Blessed Sacrament during the day, it is truly a wonderful place to go. We were there until 11, so about 1h30m and then we left to walk to the Mt. of Olives where Jesus agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane. Caitie went inside the garden and then I walked up a bit higher to Dominus Flevit or the church that commemorates where Jesus wept for Jerusalem. Then around Noon, we headed out of the Garden to make our way to Golgotha, where we were going to arrive at 3pm.

However, just before arriving and passing through Stephen or Lion's Gate, Caitie decided that she could not go....and I was left all alone (Elizabeth had earlier decided to go to a Museum)...so my two close friends here left me alone with Jesus....I can assure you, it was a lonely road...so the next 3 hours I walked the stations, stopping to pray, to look at the churches, and to observe the people all around me. It was hot....and there was a lot of commotion around everywhere. I read scripture and really took the time to appreciate the experience....I can tell you this...doing the stations of the cross in Old Jerusalem has been one of my favorite spiritual experiences while I have been here....it truly allows you to feel Jesus' sufferings and some of the horrible things he endured. The picture you see above is the at the 3rd Station (Jesus falls the first time).

So I arrived at the Sepulcher at 3pm and was able to pray on the spot of Golgotha just as a huge group of Russians arrived to pray. Then I waited outside as Elizabeth and Dr. Jones were going to meet me at 3pm...but it took them 30 minutes longer to get there since the craziness in Jerusalem makes it hard to be early.

Finally, we walked around, and ended the most wonderful day by watching a now familiar scene for me...Shabbat...or when the Jewish people celebrate at the Western Wall the beginning of their Sabbath. I truly wish you could one day be with me there to experience the joy!!